Electrical switch.



No. 841,407. PATENTBD JAN. 15, 1907.

-McGRBGOR & H. WHEN.

J. A. KENNEDY ELECTRICAL SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18, 1905.

PATENTED JAN. 15, 1907. J. A. KENNEDY-MGGREGOR & H. WREN.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED U 8,190

A G 1 5 3 $HEET$SHBET 2.

No. 841,407. PATENTED JAN. 15, 1907.

-MOGRBCOR & H. WREN. ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.18, 1905.

J. A. KENNEDY 3 SHEBTSSHEET 3.

nnrrnn snares FFl UEQ JOHN ALEXANDER KENNEDY-MGGREGQPR, @F BIRMINGHAM,AND HARRY WHEN, OF BEXl-HLL, ENGLAND, ASSiGNQRS "LG HARRY WlLLlAh i COX,

or noirrniesan, averiann no. seiner.

fipeeineation of Letters Patent.

L ea.

Patented Jan. 15, IlQQY.

epplioation'ileiliegust18,1905. teena er i770. i

"To aZZ whom, it may cor teem:

Bexhill-on-Sea, England, subjects of the King of Great Britain, haveinvented certain new and useful improvements in Electrical Switches, ofwhich the following is a specification. g

This invention relates to electrical switches of the quickmake-and-break type, and more particularly to improved self-acting meansfor locking the pivoted bridge or contact-bar in both its open andclosed positions.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 2a plan, of a switch constructed according to our invention. Fig. 3 is asectional elevation showing the bridge in the open position. Fig. A isan elevation, andFig. 5 a lan, ofa change-over switch. Fig. 6 is an eevation, and Fig. 7 a plan, showing a bearingbracket ada ted to engagewith a stud in the bridge. 3. ig. 8 is an elevation| showing achange-over switch with a bearing-bracket of the same construction asthat shown in Figs. 6 and 7. i

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

According to this invention the pivoted bridge A when in either its openor closed position is rigidly connected or lockedto the bearing-bracketD, which carries it, and is disconnected from said bracket or unlockedby a movement of the bridge longitudinally in one direction, while areverse movement connects or looks it to the bracket again.

The unlocking movement is eiiected by the operating-lever B, and thelocking movement by the quick-action spring C, which serves to connectthe bridge A to the operating-lever B in the usual manner.

One end of the bridge A (see Figs. 1, to 3) is mounted on a transversepivot-pin D, carried by the bearing-bracket D, attached to the base E,and where said pin D passes through the bridge A the latter is "formedwith a slot A, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, so that the said bridge canfirst be moved longi tudinally for a limited distance to release it fromthe bracket D and then be turned angularly about the said pin l).

the form shown in the drawings the bridge A is comprised of two membersarranged side side, and the operating-lever is mounted-loosely on thepivot-pin D, between the members comprisingthe bridge A, as shown moreclearly in Fig. 2.

When either closed or open, the inner end A of the bridge A engages withan abutment F in the interior of the bearingebracket D, so

that said bridge is normally locked and cannot be moved angularly.

To move the bridge 'A angularl it must first be moved longitudinallyunti its inner end A is clear of the abutment F. This is effected by thelever B, the side B ,of which engages with a stud or cross-pin A in thebridge A when said lever is moved ov er.

Fhe angular movement of the lever B not only moves thebridge Alongitudinally, so as to unlock it, but also extends the quick-actionspring (I, so that the moment the bridge is unlocked it opens or closeswith great rapidity. N

The several parts comprising the brid elociring device may be sodisposed that t e bridge A is held until the sprin C is fully extended,and a quick-action ma e or break is thus always insured.

in order that the spring C, which, as shown in Figsul to 3,. normallylies between the members comprising the bridge A, may be extended toaconsiderable extent by a limited movement of the lever B, it isconnected at C to a,curved part B of said lever, which gait is carriedbeyond the stud A in the ridge A, as shown, and the said stud A thusworks in the space E between the curved part B" and the main part of thelever B.

in addition to the abutment F stops F and F projecting from the innerfaces of the. checks of the bracket B, may be provided for stopping thebridge A when it reaches either of its extreme positions.

- in order to move the bridge A from the closed position (shown in Figs.1 and 2) to the open position, (shown in Fig. 3,) the lever B is movedover so as to extend the spring C, and at the same time the side B onthe said lever engages with the stud A and moves the bridge Alongitudinally in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 untilits inner and when open it engages between both of returnsit intoengagement with the bracket .4 and 5) the bracket D is provided w th twopivot D on the outer sides of the bracket D,

situated between the members B an the closed engages with either theabutment F on end "A is clear of the abutment-F. As soon l as this takesplace the bridge A will first be moved by the spring G into the openposition I ing position again, the end A of the bridge. A now engagingwith the other side of the abutment F, as shown in Fig. 3.

In closing the switch the action of the lever B and bridge A is in eachcase precisely the same as when opening it.

The spring C serves a dual purposethat is, it moves the bridge A overquickly and D on the completion of the first movement. Should the spring0 fail to act, the bridge A may be positively: withdrawn from thecontacts G or replaced by the lever B, acting on the stud A .Inthechange-over switch (shown in Figs.

locking-abutments F, (see Fig. 4,) one on each side, so that the bridgeA may be placed in three positions. In this case theoperating lever iscomprised oftwo side members B, which are ap roximately of the sameshape as the lever B, previously described. These side members B aremounted on the and their outer free ends are connected at B so as toform practically one lever. The ends of the stud A are with thisarrangement extended soasto engage with the sides B of the openingB ineach of the side members B com rising the lever. Two springs C areprefera ly provided in this case, and the are bridge A, as shown.

The inner end A of the bridge A when the right or left, according towhether the bridge is on the left or right of the bracket D,

said abutments.

In the switch shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 the bearingbracket is formed soas to enga e with the stud A in and hold the bridge. n this. case thecheeks of the bracket D are formed with notches J, (see Fig. 6,.) sodisposed that the ends of the stud A in the ridge A can take into saidnotches. The action of the switch is in this case precisely the same.'The longitudinal movement of the bridge A moves the studA out of saidnotches, and when moved by the spring C from one point to another thestud A rides on the concentric surface of the cheeks of thebearing-bracket D and'drops into the next notch. In the change-o-verswitch shown in Fig. 8 three sets of notches J are provided, as shown,so that the bridge A may be placed in either of three positions.

The bridge-locking abutment F and stops F F (shown in Figs. 1 to 5) may,if desired,

be employed in connection with the hearingbracket D. (Shown in Figs. 5and 6.) The employment of the two sets of devices is more particularlyapplicable to switches for carrying heavy currents, in which the bridgeis very heavy, and the sudden stopping of the .same is. liable to damagethe pivot D or the slot A in the bridge A.

In thearrangement shown and described there are no springcontrolledcatches or catch-pins which must be moved relatively ridge in order toeffect-the unlocking.

to the and locking of the same, and the moving parts are reduced to thelowest possible numer.that is, two, the brid or 13. There is thus lessliability of its getge A and lever B ting out of order and failing inits action. One spring C is also made 'to perform two oflicesthat is, togive. the quick action to 'the bridge A and at the same time move itlongitudinally in the reverse direction to the lever B or B and effectthe locking of said bridge.

. What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

' 1. In an electrical switch, the combination of a pivoted bridgemounted so that it can be moved longitudinally, a bearing-bracket forthe same adapted to engage with and hold the bridge, an operating-leveradapted to engage with and move the bridge longitudinally out ofengagement with the bearing-bracket,

and a spring connection between the bridge and operating-lever sodisposed as to .give a quick action and then return the bridge intoengagement with the bearing-bracket, substantially as described.

2. In an electrical switch, the combination of a bridge provided with astud or cross-pin and a slot to admit the pivot-pin, a bearingbracketfor the same adapted to engage with the bridge, an operating-leveradapted to engage with the stud in the bridge and move it longitudinallyout of engagement with the bearing-bracket, and a spring connected tothe bridge and an arm of the operating-lever respectively so disposedasto give a quick action and. then return the bridge into engagementwith the bearing-bracket, substantially as described.

3. In an electrical switch, the combination of a pivoted bridge providedwith a stud or cross-pin and mounted so that it can be movedlongitudinally, a bearing-bracket for the same provided with notches toadmit the stud in the bridge, an operating-lever adapted to engage with.the stud and move the bridge longitudinally out of engagement with thebearing-bracket and a spring connected to the bridge ,and an arm ofthe'operatinglever respectively sodisposed as to give a quick actionandthen return the bridge into engagement with the bearing-bracket, sub-.

stantially' as described.

4. In an electrical switch, the combination of a pivoted bridge providedwith a stud or a with the stud in the bridge. and move it ongitudinallyout of engagement with the beari in -bracket, and a spring connected to.the

bridge and an arm of the operating-lever respeeti'vely s0 disposed as togive aquiek action and then return the bridge into enga ement with thebearing-bracket, substantiadly as described.

Intestimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses I i JOHN ALEXANDERKENNEDY-MQGREGOR,

"HARRY WREN. I

ander Kenn'edy-MGre or;

WALTER H. E. ARTHAM,

' LEWIS W. FOWLER.

' Witnesses to the signature of Harry Wren: LAWRENCE H. ALLISTON, ALBERTJ. STOCKTON.

Witnesses to the signature" of John' Alainv

